Tile grooving and painting machine

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for grooving and painting the edges of ceiling tiles is disclosed. The tiles are conveyed past a first station where routers are mounted to form the grooves. The grooved tiles are then conveyed past a second station where a stream of paint is applied to each groove. Finally, the tiles move past a third station where a wheel-like paint roller smooths out the paint in each groove.

United States Patent 1191 Aspenson 1 June 5, 1973 [54] TILE GROOVING AND PAINTING 2,113,244 4/1938 Shevlin ..1 18/2 MACHINE 1,172,693 2/1916 Fisher ....l l8/DIG. 9

2,557,479 6/195] Smith ..ll8/2 [761 Inventor: P Aspens", F 7s2,342 2/1905 Johnson et 31.... ..1 18/35 x Dr1vel-aCr0SSe,W1S-5460| 2,252,432 8/1941 Klammt ..1 l8/2 [22] Filed: June 4, 1971 Primary Examiner.lohn P. McIntosh [21] Appl' 15.0322 AttorneyMerchant & Gould 152 U.S. c1. ..118/2, 118/35, 118/109, ABSTRACT 1 18/114 1 18/41 1 l8/DIG' 9 Apparatus for grooving and painting the edges of ceil- [51] lllt. Cl. ..B05c 7/00, B05: 1 1/02 ing tiles is disclosed. The tiles are conveyed past a first [58] Field of Search ..1 l8/35, DIG. 9, 236, station where routers are mounted to form the 118/411 37 grooves. The grooved tiles are then conveyed past a second station where a stream of paint is applied to [56] References Cited each groove. Finally, the tiles move past a third station UNITED STATES PATENTS where a wheel-like paint roller smooths out the paint in each groove. 2,402,633 6/1946 Johnson et al ..l l8/DlG. 9 2,333,285 11/1943 Wellnitz ..1 18/236 X 4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures TILE GROOVING AND PAINTING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to apparatus for sequentially grooving and painting ceiling tile edges and more particularly relates to a conveyor-like apparatus having means to groove the tile edges, means to subsequently apply a stream of paint to the grooved edges and means to smooth out the applied paint.

2. Description of the Prior Art Ceiling tiles are normally manufactured in either square or rectangular form from a selected material that has insulting or sound absorbing properties. In recent years, suspension-type ceilings have been devised that employ a suspended metal grid on which the ceiling tiles are supported. In a commonly used type of suspended ceiling, the metal grid members have an inverted T-shaped cross-sectional configuration with the vertical leg of the T extending upwardly between adjacent tiles and the horizontal leg of the T supporting the adjoining tile edges. In this type of suspended ceiling, the horizontal leg of the T is disposed under the ceiling, covering the tile joints, in an exposed position. This exposed metal portion of the grid detracts from the appearance of the ceiling and also detracts from the sound absorbing qualities of the ceiling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides apparatus for grooving and painting the side edges of square or rectangular ceiling tiles so that the exposed surface of the ceiling will be located in the plane below the plane of the metal grid. A right-angled groove is cut in the exposed tile surface along all four edges thereof, thus providing a support lip that will engage the metal grid and hold the tile securely in position with the exposed surface thereof located beneath the plane of the grid. The present invention provides means to form the grooves and also provides means to subsequently paint the grooved edges to match the exposed surface. The metal grid, being positioned within the grooves, becomes much less visible so that the appearance of the ceiling is greatly improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the tile grooving and painting machine;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view as seen from the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, portions thereof being broken away;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view as seen from the line 33 of FIG. 1, portions thereof being broken away;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view as seen from the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the paint nozzle actuating apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of a standard, square ceiling tile;

FIG. 7 is a view in perspective of a ceiling tile modified and treated with the apparatus of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view through a joint of a suspended ceiling employing the tiles of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the several views to indicate like elements of the invention, there is disclosed a machine having a frame 10 to support the machine on a floor surface. The frame 10 includes a pair of elongated, spaced, parallel side frame members 11 and 12 that are held in a horizontal plane by the frame structure. Side frame members 11 and 12 are each constructed from a pair of angle irons 11a, 11b and 12a, 12b that are welded or otherwise connected together in a back-to-back relationship to form an inverted T- shape in cross section. The inner angle irons 11a and 12a form a channel to support the opposite side edges of tiles l3 placed thereon. The inner angle irons 11a and 12a of the side frame members each have a horizontal bottom portion to support the tile 13 and a vertical side wall portion to prevent lateral movements of the tile. As best shown in FIG. 2, the tile 13 fits snugly between the two side frame members 11 and 12. It is evident from the drawings that the side frame members 11 and 12 are held in the correct relationship by the frame l0'including a plurality of cross braces 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d.

An endless conveyor 15 is mounted on frame 10 between side frame members 11 and 12. Conveyor 15 is located midway between side frame members 11 and 12 and runs the full length thereof. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper run of conveyor 15 is located in a plane positioned slightly below the bottom surface of tile 13 being supported by side frame members 11 and 12. In the preferred embodiment, conveyor 15 comprises a plurality of flat metal plates 15a connected by oppositely disposed pivotal links 16 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. However, the type of conveyor is not critical to the invention. A motor 17 and suitable gearing, is provided to drive conveyor 15 at a predetermined speed.

A plurality of evenly spaced feeder bars 18 are mounted on conveyor 15 to push the tiles along from one end of the frame to the other. As best shown in FIG. 5, each feeder bar 18 is an L-shaped member having the horizontal leg thereof welded to the upper surface of one of the plates 15a on conveyor 15 so that the vertical leg thereof extends outwardly from the conveyor, perpendicular to the surface thereof. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the upstanding leg portion of each feeder bar 18 is a flat, transversely extending metal plate. However, other forms of pusher or feeder bars could be used to engage the trailing edge of each ceiling tile to push the ceiling tile along the length of the frame between side frame members 11 and 12. As best shown in FIG. 1, the feeder bars 18 are spaced at equal intervals and there is an open space between each feeder bar 18 and the leading edge of the next following tile.

A pair of electrically driven routers l9 and 20 are mounted across from each other on side frame members 11 and l2 respectively. As shown in FIG. 3, each router is provided with a rotating cutter bit 19a positioned to cut the desired right angle groove in the tile upper surface and edge. As viewed from the top of FIG. I, cutter bit 19a of router 19 would rotate in a counterclockwise direction to make a clean cut, while the cutter bit of router 20 would rotate in a clockwise direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the vertical leg portions of angle irons 11a and Nb are cut away to accommodate cutter bit 19a. Further, a box-like housing 21 is mounted around the cutter bit on outer angle iron 11b and is provided with a side opening 22 to which is connected a flexible hose 23 from a vacuum cleaner. The

dust and particles being generated by the cutting action of bit 19a are thus drawn off into the flexible hose 23.

The same structure is provided for router 20 on side frame member 12.

It can be seen that as the conveyor and feeder bars 18 convey the ceiling tiles past the first station at which the routers 19 and are located, the two cutter bits will cut a right-angled groove in the upper surface and at each edge of the tile.

At the next station downstream from the routers 19 and 20, I provide a pair of oppositely disposed paint supply means or petcocks 25 and 26. As best shown in FIG. 2, petcocks 25 and 26 are mounted on side frame members 11 and 12 respectively so that a paint discharge nozzle of each is positioned within the previously formed groove in the tile 13. Liquid paint is provided to petcocks 25 and 26, under pressure, through hoses 25a, 26a connected thereto. Petcocks 25 and 26 each have a paint flow controlling valve stem extending upwardly therefrom, to which is attached a rotatable actuating shaft 27, 28 respectively. A first pair of bevel gears 27a and 28a are mounted on the upper ends of the two actuating shafts 27 and 28 for common rotation therewith. A cross shaft 29, having a second pair of bevel gears 29a and 29b mounted on the opposite ends thereof, extends across the frame 10 above the side frame members 11 and 12 and conveyor 15 with the second pair of bevel gears 29a, 29b operatively engaging the first pair of bevel gears 27a, 28a. Horizontally extending cross shaft 29 is supported for rotation in a pair of hangers 30 and 31 suspended from a cross frame member 10:: extending thereabove. Cross frame member Me is an inverted, generally L-shaped member, the vertically extending side leg of which also includes means to support vertically extending actuating shafts 27 and 28. If cross shaft 29 is rotated, vertical actuating shafts 27 and 28 will be simultaneously rotated therewith, to in turn open or close the valve means in petcocks 25 and 26. The valve means in the two petcocks are arranged so that rotation of shaft 29 in one direction will simultaneously openthe valves and rotation in the other direction will simultaneously close the valve means in petcocks 25 and 26.

Another support bracket 32 is connected between cross shaft 29 and frame member 10c near the center thereof. An actuating arm 33 is mounted on cross shaft 29 directly over the center of conveyor 15 by means of a sleeve 33a locked on the shaft by means ofa threaded bolt. By means of the sleeve and threaded bolt, the position of arm 33 can be angularly adjusted with respect to the shaft 29. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, arm 33 is biased rearwardly by means of a spring 34 connected between the arm and another cross frame member 10f. A stop arm 35, also mounted on cross shaft 29 by means of an adjustable sleeve, is positioned to engage cross frame member 108 to limit rotation of the shaft caused by spring 34 acting on arm 33. As shown in FIG.

neously deactuate the petcocks. Arm 33 is moved to the second position by means of a ramp member 36 mounted on conveyor 15. Ramp member 36 is a horizontally positioned flat metal plate extending rearwardly from a welded connection with the upper edge of feeder bar 18. The rear end of ramp member 36 is supported by a vertical metal plate 36a which rests on the conveyor surface.

During the time that a tile 13 is passing by the paint nozzles, the actuating arm 34 is in the first, vertical position as shown in FIG. 5, so that the petcocks are held in the open position. Arm 33 thus lies in the path of ramp members 36. When a ramp member 36 engages arm 33, arm 33 moves to the second full line position shown in FIG. 5 to deactuate the petcocks. The time at which the petcocks are deactuated corresponds to the time a trailing edge of a tile passes the two paint nozzles. Ramp 36 is of sufficient length to hold arm 33 in the second position until the leading edge of the next tile comes in line with the two paint nozzles. At that point, arm 33 drops off the rear edge of ramp member 36 permitting spring 34 to move it to the paint applying position. The position of arms 33 and 35 can be adjusted to correctly initiate and terminate the application of paint to the grooves.

Because the paint is being applied by the nozzles in the form of a strip, in somewhat the same manner that toothpaste is distributed from a tube, means are provided to distribute or spread the paint evenly over the unpainted surface of the groove. The exposed surface of the tile is normally pre-painted so it is only necessary to paint the raw material exposed by the cutter bits. This paint spreading function is provided at a third station by means of a pair of oppositely disposed wheellike paint rollers 40 and 41 mounted on side frames 11 and 12 respectively. Again, a portion of the vertical walls of the angle irons is cut away to permit the wheel to extend through the side frame members into the corresponding groove. As shown in FIG. 4, paint roller 40 includes an axle housing 40a, an axle 40b rotatable therein and a wheel-like roller 40c. In the preferred embodiment, roller 40c is constructed from a flexible, plastic mesh material that conforms to the configuration of the groove causing the wheel to rotate as the tile passes by. The frictional engagement between the wheel 40c and the groove causes the wheel to rotate and at the same time smooth out the paint evenly over the raw surface of the groove. In the preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, wheel 40c lies in a plane forming an acute angle with respect to a plane extending through the base portions of angle irons 11a and 11b. After the tiles 13 are carried by the conveyor 15 past the third, roller station, they are manually removed from the conveyor and stacked to permit the paint to dry. In the case of square tiles, each tile makes two trips through the same machine to groove and paint all four edges. In the case of a rectangular tile panel, two machines of different size must be provided if all four edges are to be grooved, or means must be provided to adjust the various elements of the apparatus to fit the different length or width.

FIG. 6 shows a typical square ceiling tile without grooves. FIG. 7 discloses the same tile having grooves formed in the edges thereof according to the invention. FIG. 8 discloses schematically a pair of adjoining tiles l3 and 13, grooved and painted according to the invention, mounted on a typical grid member 42 of a suspended ceiling.

What is claimed is: l. A ceiling tile grooving and painting machine, comprising:

a. a frame comprising a pair of elongated, spaced side frame members forming a channel to support the opposite side edges of tiles placed thereon;

b. endless conveyor means mounted on said frame between said side frame members;

0. a plurality of evenly spaced feeder bars mounted on said conveyor means to push the tiles along said side frame members;

d. means mounted on each of said side frame members to form a groove in each side edge of the tiles being conveyed thereon;

e. paint supply means mounted on said frame to deposit paint in said grooves;

f. means on said conveyor means for deactuating said paint supply means between tiles; and

g. said paint supply means comprising a pair of oppositely disposed petcocks each positioned to apply a stream of paint in the corresponding groove when actuated; a rotatable actuating shaft, having a first bevel gear on an upper end thereof, extending upwardly from each petcock; a cross shaft, having a second bevel gear on each end thereof, extending across said frame above said conveyor means; said second pair of bevel gears operatively engaging said first pair of bevel gears; an actuating arm connected to said cross shaft to rotate said cross shaft,

said arm being movable between a first position in which the petcocks are open and a second position in which they are closed to simultaneously deactuate said petcocks; and a spring connected between said arm and said frame to normally hold said arm in said first position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for deactuating said paint supply means is a ramp member mounted on said conveyor means, said arm in said first position being disposed in the path of said ramp member and said arm being moved to said second position as said ramp member passes by, said ramp member having a predetermined length to thereby hold said arm in said second position for a predetermined time.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said feeder bars are flat, transversely extending metal plates that extend vertically upwardly from said conveyor means, and wherein each said ramp member is a horizontally positioned flat metal plate extending rearwardly from the upper edge of each said feeder bar.

4. Tile grooving and painting apparatus, comprising:

a. a pair of spaced frame members forming a channel to support and guide theopposite side edges of tiles placed thereon;

b. endless conveyor means mounted between said frame members;

c. means mounted on said conveyor means to push a tile along said side frame members;

d. means mounted on at least one of said frame members to form a groove in a side edge of a tile being conveyed thereon;

e. paint supply means mounted on said frame member to deposit paint in said groove;

f. means on said conveyor means for deactuating said paint supply means between tiles;

g. means mounted on said frame member to spread said paint evenly over said groove, including a wheel-like paint roller mounted on said frame member with the edge thereof positioned in and engaging said groove; and

h. said means to form a groove being a router mounted on the frame member with a rotating cutter bit thereof positioned to cut the desired groove in the tile edge. 

1. A ceiling tile grooving and painting machine, comprising: a. a frame comprising a pair of elongated, spaced side frame members forming a channel to support the opposite side edges of tiles placed thereon; b. endless conveyor means mounted on said frame between said side frame members; c. a plurality of evenly spaced feeder bars mounted on said conveyor means to push the tiles along said side frame members; d. means mounted on each of said side frame members to form a groove in each side edge of the tiles being conveyed thereon; e. paint supply means mounted on said frame to deposit paint in said grooves; f. means on said conveyor means for deactuating said paint supply means between tiles; and g. said paint supply means comprising a pair of oppositely disposed petcocks each positioned to apply a stream of paint in the corresponding groove when actuated; a rotatable actuating shaft, having a first bevel gear on an upper end thereof, extending upwardly from each petcock; a cross shaft, having a second bevel gear on each end thereof, extending across said frame above said conveyor means; said second pair of Bevel gears operatively engaging said first pair of bevel gears; an actuating arm connected to said cross shaft to rotate said cross shaft, said arm being movable between a first position in which the petcocks are open and a second position in which they are closed to simultaneously deactuate said petcocks; and a spring connected between said arm and said frame to normally hold said arm in said first position.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for deactuating said paint supply means is a ramp member mounted on said conveyor means, said arm in said first position being disposed in the path of said ramp member and said arm being moved to said second position as said ramp member passes by, said ramp member having a predetermined length to thereby hold said arm in said second position for a predetermined time.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said feeder bars are flat, transversely extending metal plates that extend vertically upwardly from said conveyor means, and wherein each said ramp member is a horizontally positioned flat metal plate extending rearwardly from the upper edge of each said feeder bar.
 4. Tile grooving and painting apparatus, comprising: a. a pair of spaced frame members forming a channel to support and guide the opposite side edges of tiles placed thereon; b. endless conveyor means mounted between said frame members; c. means mounted on said conveyor means to push a tile along said side frame members; d. means mounted on at least one of said frame members to form a groove in a side edge of a tile being conveyed thereon; e. paint supply means mounted on said frame member to deposit paint in said groove; f. means on said conveyor means for deactuating said paint supply means between tiles; g. means mounted on said frame member to spread said paint evenly over said groove, including a wheel-like paint roller mounted on said frame member with the edge thereof positioned in and engaging said groove; and h. said means to form a groove being a router mounted on the frame member with a rotating cutter bit thereof positioned to cut the desired groove in the tile edge. 